When Josie stumbles upon the body of a murdered woman, she runs to Deputy Gordon Wolfe, a disfigured man hiding behind his badge. His shy smile and affection for dogs make her reconsider what she’s running from.
Now she’s on the run from a serial killer and her own heart. But when her friend is abducted and Cain appears to be the murder weapon, Josie’s attempt to save them both lands her in the killer’s lair. Josie’s strength and Cain’s loyalty are tested to the limit as they fight for their lives. Facing a killer is one thing, but facing her love for Gordon is Josie’s greatest challenge.
I took a hasty step back. “Don’t touch me, Ellis.” Fletcher seconded the motion by placing himself in front of me and leaning against my shins. I couldn’t hear his growls over the loud music, but I felt them through my pants. His chest thrummed with them like a plucked guitar string.
“So you’re a prude?”
“What if I am?”
He laughed and took a drink. “We can fix that.”
“There’s nothing to fix. I don’t want any part of this.”
“I don’t like being told no.”
“Yeah? Well, I don’t like being hit on by men who are engaged to my friends.”
“I haven’t hit on you yet,” he said and raised a hand.
Adrenalin surged, kicking my heart into overdrive. I called his bluff and raised a fist of my own. “You do and you’ll regret it.” His eyes traced my arm from shoulder to fist. He laughed, tossed off the rest of his wine, and sat on the couch. “Relax. I was just playing.”
“I wasn’t. Stay the hell from away me.”
“Hard to do when you’re living in my house. I might get confused in the middle of the night and wander into the wrong bedroom.”
“Good way to end up castrated.”
He opened his mouth, snapping it shut when Darby returned. She got a look at my face and stopped. “Josie, are you all right?”
“I’m getting a headache. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” she said.
“Sleep tight,” Ellis added with a wink.
I locked the bedroom door and braced a chair under the knob. I also locked the door to the deck, but that was a formality. If Ellis wanted in badly enough, all he had to do was hurl a rock through the window. I slept with the bathroom light on and Fletcher on duty. Despite Ellis’s implied threat, I did sleep. Because of my dog. His heightened senses heard every noise and sensed any change in the house. His uncanny sixth sense of who was trustworthy and who was not was a constant comfort.
The Border Collie was no raging beast like Cain, able to take down grown men without half trying, yet he was protective in his own right. He would warn me of an intruder, giving me time to flee or prepare to defend myself. In all the places I’d lived, sometimes with roommates, but more often alone, no one came to my house without Fletcher letting me know about it. He was an unfailing alarm system that required no electricity and no batteries. An alarm system that could see, hear, smell, and think. Even better, he was portable, watching over me in the Jeep, on hikes, and around town.
Such has been the dog’s job since the first wolf pup was brought into a cave and placed by the fire. To guard home and hearth, to be ever vigilant. Beyond that, to be a companion, an ally, and a source of comfort through the long, cold nights. I had no family and no close friends, but I was never lonely. I had a boon best friend in Fletcher.
“So you’re a prude?”
“What if I am?”
He laughed and took a drink. “We can fix that.”
“There’s nothing to fix. I don’t want any part of this.”
“I don’t like being told no.”
“Yeah? Well, I don’t like being hit on by men who are engaged to my friends.”
“I haven’t hit on you yet,” he said and raised a hand.
Adrenalin surged, kicking my heart into overdrive. I called his bluff and raised a fist of my own. “You do and you’ll regret it.” His eyes traced my arm from shoulder to fist. He laughed, tossed off the rest of his wine, and sat on the couch. “Relax. I was just playing.”
“I wasn’t. Stay the hell from away me.”
“Hard to do when you’re living in my house. I might get confused in the middle of the night and wander into the wrong bedroom.”
“Good way to end up castrated.”
He opened his mouth, snapping it shut when Darby returned. She got a look at my face and stopped. “Josie, are you all right?”
“I’m getting a headache. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” she said.
“Sleep tight,” Ellis added with a wink.
I locked the bedroom door and braced a chair under the knob. I also locked the door to the deck, but that was a formality. If Ellis wanted in badly enough, all he had to do was hurl a rock through the window. I slept with the bathroom light on and Fletcher on duty. Despite Ellis’s implied threat, I did sleep. Because of my dog. His heightened senses heard every noise and sensed any change in the house. His uncanny sixth sense of who was trustworthy and who was not was a constant comfort.
The Border Collie was no raging beast like Cain, able to take down grown men without half trying, yet he was protective in his own right. He would warn me of an intruder, giving me time to flee or prepare to defend myself. In all the places I’d lived, sometimes with roommates, but more often alone, no one came to my house without Fletcher letting me know about it. He was an unfailing alarm system that required no electricity and no batteries. An alarm system that could see, hear, smell, and think. Even better, he was portable, watching over me in the Jeep, on hikes, and around town.
Such has been the dog’s job since the first wolf pup was brought into a cave and placed by the fire. To guard home and hearth, to be ever vigilant. Beyond that, to be a companion, an ally, and a source of comfort through the long, cold nights. I had no family and no close friends, but I was never lonely. I had a boon best friend in Fletcher.
A portion of each sale of her novel "Courageous Cain" will be donated to Big Bones Canine Rescue in Windsor, Colorado. Help us help big dogs in need.
Win a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card!
What do you think most characterizes your writing?
ReplyDeleteMai, I'd have to say it's how the elements and nature play a part. I live in the mountains where weather is always a factor and wildlife encounters are abundant. That finds its way into my writing.
DeleteI am really enjoying following this tour, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the best joke that you have heard recently? Thnaks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteA man called our airline customer-service desk and asked if he could take his dog on board.
Delete“Certainly,” I said, “as long as you bring your own kennel. It has to be big enough for the dog to stand up, sit down, and roll over."
The customer was stunned: “How can I teach him all of that by tomorrow?”
funny
DeleteThank you for hosting me!
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, sounds like a terrific read, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really intriguing story that I would enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
This sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI really love the cover. The intro gave me goosebumps. I can't wait to read this. (jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Misty.
DeleteThis sounds like a great story. I loved the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, sounds like an awesome book! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletethis looks heart squeezing
ReplyDeleteFrom one DJ to another, the heart squeezing ones are the best kind. :)
ReplyDeleteThat certainly is a bundle of trouble.
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt!!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you used your knowledge and interest in dogs when writing Courageous Cain. It had to have helped you be able to write believable scenes.
ReplyDeleteI'm really impressed that you are donating a portion of the sale of this book to Big Bones Canine Rescue. Thank you for giving to such a good cause.
Thank you for the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good read. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love the characters in this book! Josie and Gordon are both looking for a quiet place to live their lives but murder gets in the way.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great story :) best wishes, Jo's Daughter
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the giveaway!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good read, thanks!
ReplyDeleteSounds amazing
ReplyDeletegreat excerpt
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeletethis sounds like a really good book. thanks for the excerpt
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read - thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the excerpt. I can't wait to read it. Thank you for the post and the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI think that it's interesting that you can use your own personal experience to write this novel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt sounds really interesting and the cover is very eye catching!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletea friend of mine had a pitbull named cain.it was the sweetest thing. thanks for the chance heavensent1988 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDelete